Marred by his Betrayal

Sarah

I can recall every moment I dreamt of this happening. Every nightmare haunted me with this possibility but I would wake and he would kiss those fears away.

I had dreamt of it but my dreams hadn't prepared me; it was worse. He was my nightmare, in the flesh, staring down at me.

****

I followed Ryder straight to his study. My heart beat painfully against my chest as I slammed the door shut behind me.

"What was that you displayed in the hall, Ryder?" I asked breathlessly, exhausted not from walking too fast but holding back my emotions.

"Exactly what it seemed to you." He spoke, standing behind his mahogany desk, his hands jammed into his pants. "You're to vacate this house. I've set up plans for you in the city with Trevor. He will see to it that you are settled in nicely."

I stared at my mate in shock, with no words to express my disbelief. "Ryder..." I called softly.

No response.

"Ryder!" I repeated, my voice a notch higher as I walked towards him. "If this is a joke, this is the cruellest joke you could play on me. And you decided to pick today of all days...on our anniversary... in front of all those people. I had planned this party for you, to celebrate with us."

My words caught in my throat in my haste to suppress my tears. "You introduced her as your Luna. You brought another woman to our home...and...and pregnant."

A tiny smirk stained his face. "Something you've failed to achieve for the past five years."

I took a step back, stunned by what I was hearing and seeing. The look on his face scarred me; he wasn't the same man I fell in love with.

I pinched myself hard, hoping to wake up from this nightmare. "That's untrue. The moon goddess has seen fit to bless me."

"Bless you?" He scoffed. "There is no healer on this land who can make you whole."

The realization of what was happening hit me like a moving train, crushing the life out of me. Instinctively, my hand went to my belly. I wasn't showing yet and I had wanted to surprise him with the news at the party.

Tears rolled freely down my eyes. "You betray me by sleeping with another and now you mock my plight?" I grabbed his hand tightly. "How long have you been planning this? Do you hate me so much to hurt me so badly? I love you Ryder and I gave up my family for you."

"You did nothing for me." he bit back, his voice flat, emotionless. "You left your family for your ambition and greed. You wanted to leave the gutters so bad, you threw your family under the bus."

"That's a lie!" I screamed, and my grip tightened. "And you know it. I never wanted any of that to happen. Look what it caused me."

I had met Ryder for the first time at his transition ritual to become an Alpha. I laid my eyes on him and our bond had clicked into place. My father never accepted our bond-I was owed to someone.

But deep down, my father knew I would never agree to it. That was why he poisoned me slowly with wolfbane; so he could control me. He ended up pushing me close to my death.

Ryder had stood by me as I recovered but I never fully recovered. I lost my wolf. He became my only family after he banished my father from his land. I closed my eyes, a tear slid down my cheek.

Five years and I have never gotten over losing her.

Until now.

The growth of the little bud in me was healing. I realized I wasn't damaged after all.

I smiled sadly through my tears. "I love you and I was going to tell you the good news while giving the anniversary speech. I'd known for some time now but I wanted to be certain... I didn't want to raise your hopes high. Ryder, I'm pre-"

A light knock on the door interrupted us and the reason for my ordeal walked in, hand in hand with a stranger. Ryder swiftly dropped my hands and stepped away from me.

I watched as Alexis swayed to his side, her big belly protruding from the black silk gown she had worn, her face radiating a victor's smile. Ryder's arm subconsciously went around her waist but his eyes were focused on the stranger.

"Lucas," Ryder called, his tone was deceitfully calm.

"Ryder." The stranger smiled as he gave a mocking show of salute.

"What are you doing here? This is a private matter that doesn't concern..."

"Not anymore, it isn't," the stranger injected, taking a seat on the plush couch, one leg crossed over the other. "Not when you decided to make a show in front of your guests. Please carry on, don't let my presence disturb you."

Alexis looked at me mockingly, but her words were directed to Ryder. "Babe, be nice. He offered to walk me to your study."

Babe. Wow.

Without so much as acknowledging my presence in the room, Ryder dismissed me.

"Sarah we're done here," Ryder ordered, his eyes still focused on the stranger. "I'll have the guard escort you out."

"No... please wait, Ryder," I called out, running to him as the guards entered the room. "Please, I've something to tell you. Just hear me out."

I fell on both knees, wailing as tears blinded my vision. "Please Ryder, don't do this to me. Don't push me out of your life, you're all I have left.... Please.."

My pleas fell on deaf ears as he stood there, watching the guards grab my arms. I fought against them, scratching my nails over their open arms.

"Please, Ryder...please don't do this." I continued, screaming. Propriety thrown to the wind.

His expression was taut, his eyes blank and oddly chilling when they settled on mine but I refused to believe he felt nothing for me anymore.

"Say something, Ryder," I whispered, my chest contrasting painfully as my heart shattered. "Call the guards off...Ryder..."

"Enough!" the stranger growled, knocking the couch off in his haste to stand. "Get your hands off her!"

The room fell silent and with a nod from Ryder, the guards released me and walked away. "If you won't have her, then I'll take her off your hands."

"You'll do no such thing!" Ryder growled in response, moving menacingly towards him.

"I don't take orders from you but if you want to stop me so badly, then we'll have a duel...just like the old ways!" The stranger's laughter echoed across the room. "Whoever lives, get the girl."

SARAH

Ryder growled loudly, butting heads with the stranger. The heat in the room increased as their wolves threatened to break free. The growling intensified.

"Stop!" I yelled, placing my hands against my ears.

"Stay out of this, Sarah," Ryder spat in my direction. "This doesn't include you."

"It does, Ryder...damn you! It does." I let my tears fall freely. "You're tearing our home apart and breaking my heart. Don't you see it?"

I took a tentative step towards him, hoping he would meet me halfway. He didn't bulge. The pain I felt was overwhelming, clouding my senses. I couldn't breathe properly so I took short breaths.

"We have nothing binding us together, Sarah! Our union was never blessed by the goddess. You are wolfless, Sarah."

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. "You can say all you want but I'm not leaving. This is my house too." I spoke, my body trembling from exhaustion.

"I gave you five years of my life, subjected myself to various healers and doctors just so I can conceive yet you disregard everything for her? You're willing to drag me out of here because of her!"

"I treated you right, Sarah. You lacked nothing but I've a duty to my pack."

"Say what you will but I'll not leave!"

"Then I'll be forced to call the guards back in here. There is nothing left for you here."

"It won't have to come to that," the stranger spoke up again. "I'll claim her."

I've never met this man before. He stood a few feet from me, arms crossed across his chest. I stole a glance at him He was tall and muscularly built. He caught my eyes, held my gaze for a second and smiled.

I felt a chill run down my spine as his glassy blue eyes settled back on Ryder. Where did this stranger come from and why is he here? Why is he willing to claim me?

Ryder stood stiff as he turned his icy gaze on the man. "You'll do no such thing."

In all the years I had known Ryder, he has never lost control of his composure but here he was, turning red with rage.

The thing between them wasn't about me and I wasn't ready to get caught in the middle.

"I'll go with him," I spoke loudly, breaking the tension in the room.

Ryder stared at me and for the first time since tonight, I knew deep down I had lost my mate.

His eyes were blank, leaving nothing to my imagination. "If you leave with him, don't ever step foot on my land...again."

I stood silently, not swayed by his threats and watched him walk away, leaving the door ajar.

"And that goes for you too, Lucas. See yourselves out."

My resolve broke immediately he was out of sight. I stumbled slightly, falling straight into the hands of the stranger.

"Are you okay?" he asked, gently pulling me up straight.

I nodded my head, afraid to speak. I didn't trust that I could hold back my tears and I have had enough of it. It couldn't save my marriage.

"C'mon, let's get you out of here."

****

I felt empty as I took in the room Lucas had assigned to me. It was painted in pastel colours and decorated in gold. The king-size bed sat in the centre of the room and a tub was situated at the far end, close to the window.

A long silk nightgown lay on the bed. I felt its texture and tears gathered at the brim of my eyes. I had walked out of the Stormclaw pack empty. I had nothing to my name.

I refused to acknowledge the reality of things.

I knew I just needed to get through tonight and everything would be back to normal, like it never happened.

"Do you find everything to your comfort?" Lucas' voice interrupted my musing. His words came out raspy every time he spoke. "I could get them to set up the empty rooms for you to make a choice."

"No," I replied hastily. I didn't want to give him the impression I'd be staying here longer than tonight. "This...this is beautiful. Thank you for assisting me and opening your home to me."

"That was all you kept saying throughout the ride down here. It is my pleasure, Sarah."

Good. Just what I needed; we're now on a first-name basis. He had insisted on it during the ride to his place. He wouldn't stop talking. I realized he was the CEO of Dubling Shipping and Co. - the architect of Ryder's frequent late nights at the office.

Were they really or was it the perfect lie he concocted on my behalf while he screwed his mistress behind my back? Have I really been that naive?

I bumped into Lucas as I turned, heading towards the tub. I had forgotten I wasn't alone and he must have covered the distance between us during my self-loathing.

He smiled at me as he steadied me with his hands. "I'll let you be but I've to let you know I don't offer free rides."

Well, he wasted no time coming asking for his due.

"What's the price for your generosity?"

"In return for your stay here, in Nightshade, you'll have to cut ties with the Stormclaw pack forever and be my mistress."

My mouth dropped open in shock while his smile expanded. He took two steps back and let his hand fall off me. "You're a beautiful woman and I can't act like I'm not aroused by you,"

He continued, his eyes resting on my lips. "You've nowhere to run. You would have to roam with the wild wolves and you tell me, what do you think would happen to a pretty woman like you, alone, in the wild?"

"I can't be your mistress."

"You can't or you won't?"

"I'm pregnant," I blurted out. "I'm carrying Ryder's child."

The sound of his laughter caught me off guard. Goosebumps sprouted all over my body.

"Ryder has it coming," he recited in a sing-song manner. I rolled my eyes at his rhyme. I didn't want to be burdened with their problems, I just wanted to get back to my husband.

If only I could have a moment with Ryder, we would be able to talk through it. I was willing to forgive, damn, I was willing to share him if that's what it takes.

"Lucas," I called out timidly, afraid that he would say no to my request. "I need to speak to my husband. I need to tell him...he doesn't know I'm pregnant, maybe if he knows...he will reconsider. Please, I just need him to know."

"That won't be easy," he answered with his annoying pitch.

"I'll give anything you ask for."

"Anything?" The thought of being his mistress flashed through my head but I dismissed it. It won't come to that.

"Yes, anything," I replied calmly.

"You owe me one, Sarah." he sang as he walked out of the room. I slumped on the bed, the bath forgotten.

RYDER

Sleep eluded me tonight. I pulled the covers aside and stood up. The thought of Sarah occupied my mind. I knew she was excited to celebrate the anniversary with friends but I had made other plans.

The anniversary party had been the perfect place to execute them. It was like killing two birds with a stone; denounce Sarah as my mate and introduce Alexis to the world as my Luna.

I have held up my part of the deal, now it's time for them to do the same.

It was supposed to buy me time to strategize, knowing Sarah was tucked in somewhere safe. I had planned everything perfectly with the help of my beta, Trevor.

Now, everything has been destroyed before it even began.

I had met Alexis at a business meeting. She had stood in her father's stead, Regan Blackwood(Alpha of the Blackwood pack). They have been pushing to merge with my company, SC Enterprise (Stormclaw).

Alexis was meant to be a one-night stand. The sex had been incredible. Better than I had imagined. All that perfect skin and her perfectly rounded lips. Deliciously tempting.

I hated her for it.

And I never forgave myself.

That incident was supposed to remain buried forever till she reappeared, sprouting a bump and claiming the child was mine.

I had tried every tactic within the book to make the situation vanish but Alexis had only one goal; to become my Luna.

She had me cornered. In her words, she was doing me a favour, giving me a purebred for an heir.

Truth be told, I played around with the thought. It would get everyone off my back and strengthen my pack but I couldn't go through with it.

The thought of Sarah's face twisted with anguish upon hearing the news, stopped me in my tracks every time.

When she noticed she couldn't get past me, Alexis enlisted the help of her father who took advantage of the situation.

With threats to eliminate Sarah and strip me of my title if I refused to do right by his daughter, I was forced to play their game to keep Sarah safe.

Today, Alexis got her wish. I broke the heart of the woman I claimed to love and vowed to protect. Things were moving fast and I had to protect her from Alexis even if it meant hurting her.

Now, I've pushed her into the arms of the devil himself.

Lucas Nightshade.

He knew me too well. He would have seen through my act in the study.

He made a failed attempt on my life once and that ended our friendship forever. If it wasn't for the council stepping in, it would have been a bloodbath in both packs.

The council-a group of the most powerful, rare-blooded Alphas and Lunas that govern wolves all over the realm-made us sign a treaty to keep the peace.

But I still wanted my revenge and Lucas knew that. He was taunting me outright, knowing that my hands were tied.

Though I had bravely watched Sarah disgrace herself earlier, something about her being with Lucas broke my resolve.

Sarah Willow was mine. I'll have her back no matter how long it takes to rid myself of the mess I have created.

And when that day arrives, I'm going to have my revenge on Alexis even if it means wiping the entire Blackwood pack off the face of the realm.

Footsteps pulled me from my musing. Alexis walked into the room, swaying her hips to an invisible rhythm. She was clad in a red nightgown.

Sarah's clothes...she must have raided her closet. Too tall for the gown which should have hit mid-thigh but on her, barely covered her ass and belly.

Irritated. "What the hell are you wearing?"

Alexis ignored my outburst as she walked past me to the bed.

"Get out of her clothes," I snapped. "Tell the maids to get you something else. There are plenty of clothes lying around this house, which she never wore."

"I feel comfortable in this," she retorted sharply, tugging the duvet comfortably under her arms. "It was lying around in the closet and I grabbed it. I bet Sarah won't mind."

Sarah would absolutely mind.

"Get something else to wear," I spoke flatly. " Her clothes would be moved out of the closet and into storage."

"No it won't," she spoke with a hint of finality. "It will be shredded and burnt. Same goes for everything belonging to her in this house."

A scowl marred my face at the tone of her voice. "Is there something I'm missing here?"

She bared her teeth in a false smile. "Nothing, Alpha Ryder. I just want you to be aware that your choices and actions have consequences. You haven't forgotten yourself...Ryder."

"No, I haven't, Alexis. I have kept my part of the deal. Now, it is time to do yours."

"And I will, as long as you don't go sneaking behind my back...Sarah would be safe."

"Is that a threat?"

"No, it is a reminder, baby." She pouted, wrapping her arm across her belly. "Come to bed, I want to be held. Nothing bad happens to me or my baby or your precious Sarah will be six feet under."

Seething with restrained anger, I approached her side of the bed. "Do well to pick your words wisely."

Her eyes stared into mine, unwavering. "Do well not to forget our deal, Ryder."

I stepped back, the sting of her words kept mine at bay. I need to rid myself of Alexis and her father and I need to do it soon.

"/Alph Ryder, you have been summoned to the house of the council, tomorrow. Alone./" Bill, my personal guard informed me through the mind link.

"/Thanks/"

Alone? I mused inwardly. Has Regan Blackwood gotten to them before I did? Are they about to be mediators?

Maybe my day has arrived earlier than I had expected.